Southern Medical Clinic, LLC
Chirag R. Patel, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine
Office Policies
Waiting Room
Please check in with the receptionist at the front desk when you arrive. We have provided medically relevant reading material for your convenience. We request that you monitor children and that you do not leave them unattended in the waiting room while visiting the doctor. Please do not bring food or drinks into the waiting room. Smoking is not permitted within the waiting room or anywhere within the office building.
Telephone
We highly encourage you to call the office with any questions that you may have in regards to your medical care. Please understand that it is not always possible to speak with the doctor right away since the doctor is often busy consulting patients throughout the day. If your call concerns a medical urgency, the doctor may be notified immediately depending on the circumstance. Usually, the doctor will return your call at the earliest opportunity. The majority of calls are returned during the morning and late afternoon.
Prescriptions
All prescription refills should be requested during regular office hours, when your medical record is available to the doctors. If you would like your prescription refill telephoned to your pharmacy, please have the phone number available when you call. Please call for refills a few days before your prescription runs out rather than waiting until the last moment. Prescriptions for antibiotics or narcotic pain medications will not routinely be given over the telephone without a recent examination by the physician, in order the ensure that you receive medication appropriate for your condition.
Emergency Care
In the event of a medical emergency, we will do our best to respond to your problem as promptly as possible. In the case of a serious emergency, you should go to the nearest hospital emergency room. In less serious cases, call the office and you will be contacted as soon as possible. If you need to speak with the doctor after regular office hours, the answering service will forward your message to doctor on call.
Fees and Insurance
Payment for office services, including any co-payment, is due at the time of the office visit. Please keep in mind that the responsibility for the payment of medical bills rests with you, the patient. In most cases, the office will gladly file with your insurance company. You are responsible for any portion of the bill not covered by the insurance company. In the event of financial hardship, please contact our office manager to make specific arrangements for payment.
